Velocipede



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.. J

J. 0. BROWN. 7

VE'LOGIPEDE. No. 256,118; Patented Apr.-1'1, 1882.

Fig. i

(No Model.) J. 0. BROWN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

VELOOIPEDE.

' No. 256.118. Patented, Apr. 11 1882,.

' UNITED STATES PATE v OFFICE.

JAMES 0. BROWN, onnaneoa, MAINE.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,118, dated April11, 1882. Application filed October 5, 1831. (XounodcL) T 0 all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES 0. BROWN, ofthe city of Bangor, in the countyof Penobscot and .State of Maine, have invented an Improvement inVelocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to velocipedes generally, but moreparticularly to that class which have more than two wheels; and itconsists of two large forward wheels upon independent axles, to one onlyof which propellingpoweris applied, and two small trailing-wheelsadapted to run upon the ground between the two large wheels andtolerably close to their line of contact with the ground; further, inhinging-said trailing-wheels to the frame at a point in advance of theiraxes and combining them with means to govern and control their movement,to the end that they may steer the velocipede; further, in combining thesteering device with brake devices adapted to act upon each of the twoforward wheels and their axles independently; further, in arranging theseat close to the main axles, between the wheels and somewhat to therear of their axes; further, in so constructing the axle-frame that thetwo independent axles may be so set that the large wheels will have anangle the focus of which might be anywhere from below to in front of themachine; further, securin g to one of the main shafts a sprocket-wheeland arranging below and somewhat in advance a second sprocket-wheel uponthe crank-axle, and supported in adjustable bearings, and an endlesschain working over both of said wheels, or other equivalent device, andin minor details of construction, all of which are more fully set forthin the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings,

which form part thereof. The object of this invention is to construct avelocipede which can be ridden by both the male and female sex withequal facility, that shall be steered as ahorse would be governed by thereins, that shall be adapted to turn in averylimited space, that shallbe so constructed that it may be stopped instantly, that the wheels maybe set at any desired angle, and that cannot upset the rider.

In the drawings, Figure l is a sectional side elevation on line w w ofavelocipede embodying in it my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan of same.Fig. 3 is a perspective view, showing the axle-frame, one of the mainaxles, the steering device, and brake device. Fig. 4 is a view frombelow of the axle-frame and axles, and shows one method of giving anangular run to the wheels. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of theaxle-frame, and shows the two independent axles and the sprocket-wheelin elevation.

A A are the main wheels, one of which is secured to the idler-shaft E,having its bearin gs in the axle-frame D, and provided with a collar orhead, E, to keep it in place. The other of said wheels is secured uponthedrivingshaft F, having its bearings also in the axleframe D, andcarrying on its inner end a chain or sprocket-wheel, G, which restsagainst the collar E of shaft E and works within an Elshaped frame, (J,which joins the two parts of frame D, said frameO being split at thebottom, forming lugs c 0, which are bolted together by bolt 0. v

Secured to the frame 0, and extending back, is the frame B, which isprovided with an arm, B, upon which and the end of the frame B thespring 0, which supports the seat P, rests.

The axle Q carries the idler trailing or steering wheels T, and isprovided with an extension, R, secured from lateral strain by braces r,which is pivoted to frame B at S, some few inches in advance of theaxles of the trailingwheels, to keep said wheels in line when thesteering device is not used.

The braces M andN support the axle H,

which carries the sprocket or chain wheel I- and cranks K, said axlebeing carriedin bearin gs L, made adjustable in braces M by means ofslots m.

Passing over wheels I and G is an endless sprocket-chain, J. Pivoted atd to the axle-frame D, and close to either wheel A, is thesteering-lever V, pro vided at the top with a handle and pivoted at thebottom to a rod, U, which in turn is pivoted to an extension, 2%, of theaxleQ.

The brake-lever or bell-crank W is either pivoted to the lever V at 'w,as shown, or directly to the frame D, and to one end of said lever W issecured a brake-strap, Y, which encircles the wheel face or hub X on thewheel A, said strap being secured at the other end to the lug g on theframe D. One of these brakes is preferably arranged to act upon eachwheel.

In operating the machine the operator sits upon the seat l? and placeshis feet upon the cranks K, and 'upon rotating the wheel I the chain Jtransmits a' like motion to wheel G and shaft F, rotating thedriving-wheel A and propelling the machine. To steer either to one sideor the other, the operator pulls upon the respective steering-levers V,which action swings the trailing axle and wheels T into the properposition to steer the velocipede as desired. 7

To turn on the driving-wheel A as if on a pivot, suddenly press hardupon the brakelever W, which governs the rotation of shaft F, at thesame time holding the cranks rigid with the feet and leaning the bodyforward, so as to balance the machine, when the velocipede will rotateupon the wheels A, the driver acting as the pivot or axis of rotation.

Byjoining the bearings of the frame D by the split frame 0 the axles andwheels may be set at an angle, as shown in Fig. 4:, by inserting a smallwedge-shaped piece, 0 or the same effect may be obtained by leveling offthe edges of said lugs c 0, and thereby give any angle to the wheels A,whose focus or point of intersection will be preferably from below tobefore the machine, but which may be any distant point in a plane passedthrough the middle points of the axle Q and from D (J.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A velocipedein which the two large wheels are secured uponindependent axles, and one of said wheels alone acts as the propeller tothe vehicle, substantially as 'and for the purpose specified.

2. A velocipedein which the twolarge wheels are securedupon independentaxles, and one of said axles arranged and combined with means \vherewithit can be rotated to propel the velocipede, substantially as and for thepurpose specified. p

'3. In avelocipede, the axle-frame consisting of the two bearings D D,joined in the middle by a yoke or frame, (I, one side of whichis split,in combination with a bolt, whereby said bearings may be set at variousangles, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a velocipede,the combination of frame D 0, wheels A A, one ofwhich is upon a shaft, E, and the other upon shaft F, provided on itsinner end with a wheel, G, seat P, frames B M N, or their equivalent,crank-axle H, cranks K, adjustable bearings L, wheel I, and chain J, orits equivalent, steering-levers V, rod U, axle 6,}, arms t,steering-wheels l, projection B from axle Q, and pivot S, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

5. In a velocipede, the wheels A upon independent axles and providedwith brake-wheels X, in combination with brake-levers NV, frame D, withits lug y, and brake-strap Y, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto

